[Psychotherapy of irritable colon]

16 patients with an irritable colon were examined psychologically and independent of the result of the diagnostics of neuroses additionally distributed to two groups of treatment. One group was treated symptomatically, the other additionally psychotherapeutically (above all with autogenous training). Two thirds of the patients showed a neurosis. Psychotherapy was very useful only in those patients with a neurosis, measured as the result of the treatment one year after the beginning of the therapy. When an obstinate irritable colon is present, a diagnostics of neuroses is indicated. If a neurosis is proved, an individual psychotherapy is indicated, in which case the autogenous training as basis therapy apparently stood the test.